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Pope Dubious Provenance XI

Norton I
Emperor of the United States and
Protector of Mexico

(Joshua A. Norton, 1819-1880)

COWAN

Printed in the QUARTERLY OF THE
CALIFORNIA
HISTORICAL SOCIETY, October, 1923.

Norton I
Emperor of the United States and
Protector of Mexico

(Joshua A. Norton, 1819-1880)

BY

ROBERT ERNEST COWAN

SAN FRANCISCO
CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
1923
EMPEROR NORTON
(Joshua A. Norton, 1819-1880)
From the collection of C. B. Turrill
NORTON I
EMPEROR OF THE UNITED STATES AND PROTECTOR
OF MEXICO

(Joshua A. Norton, 1819-1880)

"Every age has its peculiar folly; some scheme, project or phantasy
into which it plunges, spurred on either by the love of gain, the
necessity of excitement, or the mere force of imitation." Thus has a
gifted writer laid down a human law as universal as the human race
itself.

All cities have had that singular class of eccentric individuals
commonly and generally known as "characters." Of these San Francisco
has had perhaps more than her share. The years from 1860 to 1875 were
generously prolific of these freaks. Some were impoverished, soiled
and ragged; some were hopelessly woebegone and pathetic; some in their
personal appearance were fantastic or picturesque; some were noted for
sheer strength of character and vitality of obsessions; others, less
few in number, were those who retained the gentility of their happier
days and bore themselves with consistent and conspicuous dignity to
the end.

In San Francisco in the sixties, the popular promenade was through the
streets Montgomery and Kearny from Jackson to Sutter. Here in the late
afternoon might be seen as in a rapidly shifting kaleidoscope, a most
unusual procession relieved here and there by the injected
"characters," who lent life and color to the warp and woof of that
most strangely variegated tapestry. A small army they were, each
member living his own life and absorbed in his own mysterious
schemes. Here were George Washington Coombs," known also as the "Great
Matrimonial Candidate"; "Old Rosey"; "Money King"; "Robert Macaire";
the "Gutter-Snipe"; "Old Crisis," and others, all of whom long since
have passed into oblivion. And in this motley throng though never of
it, appeared "Emperor Norton."

Joshua A. Norton was his real name. He was of Hebrew parentage, born
February 4, 1819, probably in Scotland. Of his earlier life nothing is
known as he rarely spoke of it. Before coming to California he had
been for some time at Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, where he was a
member of the Cape Mounted Riflemen. He finally reached San Francisco
in December, 1849, having come from Rio de Janeiro on the Hamburg
vessel Franzika.

Norton at once engaged in business. He was occupied in extensive
transactions in real estate, and many tremendous operations in
importation commissions. His native shrewdness was even unusual; his
intelligence was wonderfully clear, and his business judgment was
remarkably accurate. To this acumen were added the rarer attributes of
a sound and inflexible moral and financial integrity. Some of these
commissions involved transactions to the extent of several hundreds of
thousands of dollars weekly, and Joshua Norton rapidly became
wealthy. He had brought with him to California, $40,000, and towards
the close of 1853 he had amassed a fortune of a quarter million of
dollars.

In 1853, in association with one Thorne and others he attempted to
control the rice market. Earlier he had operated heavily, had been
uniformly successful, and was applauded for his daring and foresight;
co-operation was offered and accepted from other large firms and an
immense quantity of rice was secured and held. Everything was
promising for yield of immense fortune as profit, as rice was then
thirty-six cents per pound in bulk, unloaded. Almost the last pound of
rice in this port had been purchased by the combination. The profits
were being calculated when two unexpected cargoes of rice arrived,
which the combination could not take up nor control. The market was
drugged and prices fell much below cost. To add to the general
disaster, in order to protect themselves, some of the associated firms
sold out and Norton was financially ruined. He contended stoutly to
his closing days that one well-known firm owed him $60,000.

Extensive litigation followed. The first of these cases was that of
Ruiz Hermanos vs. Norton, et al. In this contention Norton was
sustained in the lower court, but upon appeal this decision was
reversed by the Supreme Court. This was in November, 1853. Other
serious embarassments followed, and the sacrifice of his extensive
holdings of real estate, principally around North Beach, was the last
chapter of his unfortunate disaster. The previous excitement of false
expectation and shock of these disappointments coupled with the legal
troubles constituted a severe blow to Norton's sanity. He retired into
obscurity, and when he emerged in 1857, he gave palpable and distinct
evidence of an overthrown mind.

His obsession took the form of a belief that he was the Emperor of the
United States. He claimed that by an act of the legislature of 1853,
he had been made Emperor of California. With this he was dissatisfied,
and not unreasonably so, for he argued that California was but one of
a union of states, and as such could neither loyally nor logically
create an emperor. Further, as he would not renounce what he styled
the "national cause," the act was accordingly suppressed.

The earliest printed proclamation of the self-created Emperor appeared
in 1859.

At the peremptory request and desire of a large majority of the
citizens of these United States, I, Joshua Norton, formerly of Algoa
Bay, Cape of Good Hope, and now for the last 9 years and 10 months
past of S. F., Cal., declare and proclaim myself Emperor of these
U. S.; and in virtue of the authority thereby in me vested, do hereby
order and direct the representatives of the different States of the
Union to assemble in Musical Hall, of this city, on the 1st day of
Feb. next, then and there to make such alterations in the existing
laws of the Union as may ameliorate the evils under which the country
is laboring, and thereby cause confidence to exist, both at home and
abroad, in our stability and integrity

NORTON I,
Emperor of the United States.

17th September, 1859.

Having assumed the sword and the plume, Norton I actively entered upon
the many duties that pertained to his royal station. It is of interest
to note that the pretensions of Norton were early recognized by the
public of San Francisco and as speedily humored. His name had
temporarily disappeared from the city directory, but in Langley's
issue for 1862, we find the following: "Norton, Joshua, (Emperor),
dwl. Metropolitan Hotel." His empire was established and Norton I,
Emperor of the United States had begun to reign.

One day at this period, some important news was received from Mexico,
and in this as in all such matters, the Emperor was greatly
interested. In a spirit of levity some joker stated that Mexico needed
a protector, and suggested that Norton was the logical
choice. Thereupon "Protector of Mexico" was added to the official
title and retained for almost a decade. It was dropped during the
unhappy career of Maximilian, for, as Norton sanely and even
prophetically observed: "It is impossible to protect such an unsettled
nation."

The imperialistic duties were manifold, comprehending grave affairs
both national and international. The civil war gave him deep
concern. On July 12, 1860, he declared the Union dissolved. Early in
the war he declared a blockade, and in 1862 he issued a mandate to the
Protestant and Catholic churches to publicly ordain him as Emperor,
that he might more efficiently bring order out of the chaos into which
the country had been plunged by the violent conflict and fierce
dissensions of its rebellious people.

Some of the proclamations to be found in the contemporary journals
were jokes which originated with the graceless wags and inspired
idiots of the day. Others, of which one or two are extant, were the
inspiration of Norton alone. They are couched in terms of sanity and
composed in superior English. Most of them are national in purport and
bear upon relations with Great Britain, Russia, Mexico and other
foreign countries. Others relate to the affairs of the civil war. One
has survived which is entirely personal. In February, 1860, the
Emperor desired to visit Sacramento where the legislature was then in
session. The Steam Navigation company denied him
transportation. Norton issued an order to the commander of the revenue
cutter to blockade the Sacramento river until the offending company
could be brought to terms.

The proclamations which were issued as jokes are easily to be
recognized. Norton had no part in them as they were the work of the
conscienceless wags and amiable villains of the times. One of these
fictitious documents was issued in observance of the forty-sixth
birthday of the Emperor:

Owing to unsettled questions between His Majesty Maximilian I, El
Duque de Gwino, The Tycoon, the King of the Mosquitos, the King of the
Cannibal Islands, &c., the usual display of bunting on foreign
shipping and on public buildings, in commemoration of our 46th
birthday, will be omitted.
Feb. 4, 1865.

Another proclamation was to the effect that the Emperor contemplated
marriage, but to avoid arousing jealousy among the fairer sex, he
played no favorites and they were to decide for themselves which one
of them should be Empress.

Falsified telegraphic news was also a source of great amusement for
the versatile wits. In 1864, Jefferson Davis telegraphed to inquire if
it were true that Norton was in sympathy with Lincoln, also the
request that $500 be sent, as Davis had but one pair of trousers, and
even that was worn out. Another telegram was from Lincoln. The
President thanked the Emperor for his support, and said he had a good
story to tell but at present was too busy settling accounts with a
seedy individual named Davis. Norton was instructed to proceed to
Petaluma, there to remain until further official notice. What the
Emperor thought of these effusions will never be known. But
interlinear reading is not altogether difficult, for in many
directions the mind of Norton was unusually clear, and at all times he
was remarkably philosophic.

During his long reign the equanimity of the Emperor was never
seriously disturbed except by the actions of two individuals.

The first of these was D. Stellifer Moulton, formerly New York
correspondent of the Boston Traveller. In 1865, he proclaimed a
monarchy and styled himself, "Stellifer the King, Reigning Prince of
the House of David, and Guardian of Mexico." Stellifer was of fine
education and possessed luxurious tastes, but unlike Norton, was
entirely insane. He had lived at the leading hotels in New York and
Boston, and when dunned by them had agreed to pay upon receipt of his
claims against the United States Treasury for $3,500,000, which was to
be his semi-annual allowance. In a republic such regal ambitions are
not always appreciated, so the authorities apprehended Stellifer the
King, and promptly sequestered him. This state of affairs was too much
for our Emperor. He, himself, was of the House of David, and also was
he not Protector of Mexico? He purged his soul of its bitter
resentment which flamed forth in the following:

PROCLAMATION.

Down with usurpers and imposters! Off with his head! So much for
cooking other people's goose! The legitimate authorities of New York
are hereby commanded to seize upon the person of one Stellifer,
styling himself King or Prince of the House of David, and send him in
chains to San Francisco, Cal., for trial before our Imperial Court, on
various charges of fraud alleged against him in the public prints.

NORTON I

Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico.
S. F. 6th day of Nov. 1865.

The other member of the grossly offending duo was Denis Kearney, famed
for his sand-lot statesmanship and anti-Chinese oratory. For Denis,
the Emperor favored speedy judicial extermination. At the same time
the new Constitution also exasperated him and he denounced it as high
treason. He would have destroyed it but was willing to have the
eminent attorney, Hall McAllister legally annul it.

In personal appearance the Emperor was always a picturesque and
striking figure. He was of medium height, heavy-set, with hair that
was inclined to curl, heavy eye-brows under a massive forehead,
moustache and beard that became a royal personage, and clear and
penetrating eyes. His garb was of navy blue cut in military style and
profusely adorned with brass buttons. The shoulders were surmounted
with massive gilt epaulettes, sometimes tarnished from exposure. In
the earlier years of his reign he had worn a military cap embellished
with red trimmings, which is quite familiar in the cartoons of that
time. About 1865, one of his loyal subjects presented the Emperor with
a tall beaver hat, which was thoughtfully decorated with a cockade of
feathers and a rosette. The cap had outlived its usefulness and was
laid aside forever. The hat, replaced from time to time, continued to
be the regal headgear until the close of the Emperor's reign. In 1867,
one of his subjects had sent from Oregon a large and unusual specimen
of grapevine intended for a walking-stick. It was shod with a ferule
and gold-mounted, and thereafter constituted his sceptre. He was never
without it, but in inclement weather he carried also an umbrella,
knowing wisely that royalty may be drenched and that his kingly
authority was no greater than that of his illustrious predecessor,
Canute.

He bore a sort of resemblance to Napoleon III, which fact when
commented upon brought forth the ridiculous rumor that Norton was the
son of that ill-starred monarch. This misstatement, so obvious in its
utter absurdity, was hatched in the scattered brains of some
irresponsible contemporary, whose living prototypes, loud with vacant
volubilities and rich in historical misapplications, are yet in our
midst.

The private life of the Emperor was simple. For seventeen years he had
lived at the Eureka Lodging House, and the regal apartment was not
palatial. It was a room of 6 x 10 feet in dimensions, with threadbare
carpet and disabled furniture. The chief mural decorations were
portraits of the foreign rulers and his collection of hats. His
familiar figure was seen and known everywhere. He was a constant
attendant of churches, theatres, musical affairs, civic gatherings and
school commencements. He was deeply interested in higher education and
in the earlier days of the University was a frequent visitor. He was
fond of children and to them he was always gentle and courteous. There
was at that time a Lyceum of Free Culture of which he was a member,
and there he sustained many debates most intelligently and
logically. It is said that he had some interest in spiritualism, but
in which direction is not known. For sustenance he had the freedom of
nearly every restaurant in the city, as also of every saloon. He was
unusually abstemious, and if he frequently appeared in the popular
saloons of Barry and Patten and "Frank's," or in the famous "Bank
Exchange" and the "Pantheon," it was not in quest of liquor, but of
"free lunch."

It was his custom to visit the markets and the docks, and to view
buildings in process of construction. This was not from idle curiosity
but from genuine interest, for in all these and kindred matters he was
keenly informed. From time to time visits were made to men of affairs,
and the Emperor had that rare discretion that never permitted himself
to be regarded as a nuisance. He was even welcomed, for his own
business training had taught him to appear at a suitable time and to
retire at a proper moment. He had never met with royalty but once, and
that distinguished personage was Dom Pedro, Emperor of Brazil.

No sketch of Norton would be entirely complete without some reference
to "Bummer" and "Lazarus," the two dogs that enjoyed the freedom of
San Francisco in the sixties. Lazarus was a wretched beast of low
degree, and Bummer was but little better. But in some of his long gone
ancestors there must have been a strain of nobility, for it was Bummer
who sniffed this in the Emperor, and thereafter associated himself
with the royal presence, with the miserable Lazarus as an humble
retainer. This was not of Norton's choice, but-noblesse oblige.

Edward Jump, then a young man, was the popular cartoonist of the
sixties. In numerous of his cartoons he had introduced the wellknown
figure of the Emperor. In one of these, Norton is depicted at a
free-lunch table satisfying the royal appetite, and beneath him are
the two dogs awaiting the crumbs. Bummer as usual is alert and
confident; Lazarus stands meanly, looking even more dejected than he
did upon the morn of his resurrection. This caricature was displayed
in a local shop-window where it was seen by Norton. It was the only
time throughout his long reign that he was known to exhibit signs of
violence. He savagely growled, "It is an insult to the dignity of an
Emperor!" and crashing his stick through the window, destroyed the
offending print.

Once only was he arrested. In 1867, a newly-appointed, young and
zealous deputy apprehended Norton and took him before the Commissioner
of Lunacy. The next day when brought before the proper authorities he
was promptly discharged with an apology. The verdict was, 'that he had
shed no blood; robbed no one; and despoiled no country; which is more
than can be said of his fellows in that line." There were returned to
him the key of the palace, and the imperial funds amounting to $4.75
lawful money. For these the Emperor gave his royal receipt.

During all of these years the Emperor had lived. From June 15, 1858,
he had been a charter member of Occidental Lodge, F. and A. M., and
the Masons, it is said, had paid his room rent. Voluntary
subscriptions were made by the faithful among his subjects, and when
the treasury was depleted he was accustomed to levy a tax of varying
but small amounts. For these he invariably gave or offered a receipt
in the form of a promissory note. This was a printed scrip which bore
a vignette of the Emperor and was payable in 1880. It had been his
purpose to exchange these for a new series, payable in 1890 at 4%.

The last hoax played upon him was also the crowning effort of the
graceless, witty scamps of his realm. Norton was induced to believe
that by marriage with Queen Victoria, he could bind closer the ties of
the two great nations. Telegrams of congratulations upon the
approaching happy event were found among his effects. These purported
to be from Alexander of Russia, Beaconsfield, Grévy, former President
Grant, and others.

The close of the Emperor's life and the end of his long reign came on
January 8,1880. Early in the evening while standing at the corner of
California street and Grant avenue, he was observed to
fall. Assistance was rendered immediately, but ten minutes later the
Emperor was gone. Death had been caused by sanguineous apoplexy. An
autopsy by Doctors Stivers and Douglass, made with special reference
to the brain, disclosed the fact that that organ was quite normal, and
the more unusual fact that it weighed 51 ounces. The costs of the
funeral were provided by Joseph G. Eastland, R. E. Brewster, and the
members of the Pacific Club. The final ceremonies were conducted at
the Morgue, and the eulogy was delivered by Rev. N. L. Githens, Rector
of the Church of the Advent. It is estimated that 10,000 people of all
walks in life came to view that silent figure, which rested in a
wilderness of flowers. A lady, well-known and of high social station,
with her own fingers pinned upon the lapel of the sleeping monarch a
beautiful boutonniere of hyacinth and a spray of fern, remarking
quietly that Norton had been kind to her when she was a child and he
was in the heyday of his success. He was interred in Masonic Cemetery.

For twenty-three years the Emperor had reigned in his fantastic
realm. His were the best-known features in San Francisco, and many
hundreds of citizens yet live who vividly remember him. A striking
portrait of him, painted by Benoni Irwin, was formerly in the
chess-room of the Bohemian club, and a familiar little terra-cotta
figure, possibly by Mezzara or Wells, may yet occasionally be seen.

The question of the insanity of Norton has been debated, but the
evidence would appear to be in favor of the entire sincerity of his
belief. At the time of his disaster he was but thirty-five years of
age, and with his great abilities might easily have regained his
fortune or created a new one. But that single, twisted convolution lay
uppermost and for twenty-three years dominated his purpose. Poor,
sometimes soiled and shabby, pathetic and philosophic, but always with
a noble mind, he bore himself with dignity amid his squalid
surroundings with one fixed and unvarying purpose, and that was
consistently the welfare of his people. The heritage of honor and
integrity that he had handed down while in his affluence, was never
squandered nor dissipated, and so he bore the respect and goodwill of
the best of his people to the end. The jokes played upon him had been
harmless, and the merriment that he sometimes excited had been without
the bitter venom of ridicule.

If sincere, his was a career of long heroic sacrifice; if an imposter,
he must be ranked as one of the most extraordinary of that class who
has yet lived. He left no successor. The emoluments of an unattractive
throne and an empty royalty were not alluring; there was none strong
enough to follow him; and finally the world was entering upon an epoch
of materialism in which there is no provision for such a monarch. From
that strange stage through the doors of oblivion, thus passes forever
Norton I, Emperor of the United States, and Protector of
Mexico. L'Empereur est mort.

In the same month, at a Low Jinks of the Bohemian club, a gifted and
beloved member, the late Dr. George Chismore, presented this beautiful
tribute:

NORTON IMPERATOR

"No more through the crowded streets he goes,
With his shambling gait and shabby clothes,
And his furtive glance and whiskered nose--
Immersed in cares of state.
The serpent twisted upon his staff
Is not less careless of idle chaff,
The mocking speech or the scornful laugh,
Than be who bore it late.
His nerveless grasp has released the helm,
But ere the Lethean flood shall whelm
The last faint trace of his fancied realm,
Let us contrast his fate
With other rulers and other reigns,
Of royal birth or scheming brains,
And see if his crazy life contains
So much to deprecate.
No traitorous friends, or vigilant foes,
Rippled the stream of his calm repose;
No fear of exile before him 'rose,
Whose empire was his pate;
No soldiers died to uphold his fame;
He found no pleasure in woman's shame;
For wasted wealth no well-earned blame
Turned subjects' love to hate.
No long and weary struggle with pain;
One sudden throe in his clouded brain
Closed forever his bloodless reign,
With every man his friend.
For Death alone did be abdicate.
What Emperor, Prince or potentate,
Can long avoid a similar fate
Or win a better end!"